Two Yo-Yo’s Are Better Than One Communicator: What is your favorite thing about the PCT yo-yo? Scott: I’d never say never, but at this point I don’t have any interest Scott: I guess it’s the challenge of making it all the way back before in yo-yo’ing the AT or the CDT. Someone actually did three back-to- An Interview with Scott Williamson winter. That motivates me. It’s a race against nature. But because I’m back AT thru-hikes in the 1980s. And while I’m not thinking about racing nature and moving a lot faster, it’s a different type of experi- doing a CDT yo-yo, I’m sure someone will eventually. Scott Williamson became the first person Communicator: The first question people must often ask you is “why?” And ence than what other people are having out there. There is a bit of Communicator: Speaking of other yo-yo’ers, do know of anyone else who’s In 2004 to complete two Pacific Crest (PCT) we can’t help ourselves either... Why are two yo-yo’s better than one? downside. But I really enjoy the challenge and seeing how long I poised to do a PCT yo-yo? can push myself. I also just love the trail itself and the people I meet thru-hikes in succession, a feat known in the long-distance hiking Scott: The main reason for trying it [the yo-yo] a second time, or at Scott: I haven’t heard of anyone planning a 2007 attempt. But while I’m on it – the thru-hikers, section-hikers, day-hikers, and trail world as a “yo-yo.” This 3,500-mile-accomplishment was enough to least my excuse, was to break my own record in terms of the number there are certainly people out there who could do it. My record will maintainers – everybody. I meet wonderful people out there. make him a PCT legend. But it wasn’t enough for Scott. In 2006, of days it took me to do it. But the real reason was that I enjoy the be a pretty easy one to beat. It’s only a matter of time before people Scott put his best feet forward again and succeeded in repeating the PCT so much – both the trail itself and the hiking community out Communicator: You’ve thru-hiked the (AT), the discover the secret of the PCT yo-yo: it means you get to spend more yo-yo and breaking his own record by two weeks. there every summer. It was also a personal challenge. I wanted to (CDT) and the Trail, and you’ve hiked time on the trail! Counting each of his yo-yo’s as two thru-hikes, Scott has hiked go back out there and do it again and prove to myself that it wasn’t many other as well. But you’ve hiked the PCT nine times! What is it Communicator: So, what’s next? the PCT nine times during the last 15 years – making him the just luck the first time. about the PCT that keeps you coming back? Scott: Well, I’m getting married in June. It will hopefully be a laid- most prolific PCT thru-hiker ever. With this sort of experience, we Scott: One of the reasons I’m so drawn to the PCT is because out back camp-out wedding and then Michelle, my fiancée, and I will thought we would ask Scott to share his perspective on how the trail of the three North American long trails (the AT, CDT, and PCT) attempt a southbound PCT thru-hike as our honeymoon. This will has changed in the last decade and a half, for better and for worse. Scott’s 2006 yo-yo took him approximately 191 days, 1 hour, the PCT has the most wilderness trail tread and the most miles in be her first long-distance hike and I’m really excited to be a part of And of course, like most people, we wanted to hear for ourselves and 20 minutes to complete. On a typical day he would hike roadless areas. And, the PCT has a little bit of everything that the that and to introduce her to it. People may not believe this, but I exactly why Scott would want to yo-yo yo-yo. To learn how Scott has 35 to 42 miles over the course of more then 14 hours. On these other trails have. I just love the PCT. know how to take my time and enjoy a hike if I want to. managed these epic adventures, please see the box that accompanies two pages we see Scott at the PCT’s southern terminus, among Communicator: Would you consider yo-yo’ing one of the other long trails? this article. Then there’s this other idea I had to do a winter PCT thru-hike other scenes from his monumental journey. and ski trip. But I have no concrete plans. It’s just an idea that I’m

18 19 PCTA Communicator February 2007 PCTA Communicator February 2007 How Does He Do It? Approximately ten million steps, 3,500 miles, 191 days, 26 ered him items as needed. Many trail angels, fellow hikers, and predetermined resupply stops, a second PCT yo-yo, and one 34- friendly strangers were also helpful along the way. year-old PCT legend – Scott Williamson. Despite this consistent support, numerous impediments nearly A single thru-hike of the PCT can take up to six months. But ended Scott’s 2006 yo-yo. At one point, he suffered from a severely Scott Williamson, during his second PCT yo-yo (which is defined infected toe due to an ingrown nail. Fortunately he met a surgeon as two thru-hikes completed in succession) left the Mexican bor- on the trail who used pain pills and surgical tools from her pack der and the southern terminus of the PCT on May 22, 2006, to perform a minor operation to remove the toenail and keep him kicking around. I believe that in the next five years someone will most people know and practice low-impact techniques; it’s just a fac- and reached the Canadian border in just under three months on hiking. Swollen streams and creeks in northern Yosemite National do a winter thru-hike. tor of numbers. Of course, I know that I’m out there too and I’m August 18th. There, he stopped for a one-hour lunch before turn- Park filled with runoff from record snowfall nearly stopped him having an impact as well. ing around and heading back to where he started. He reached the as well. Bear Creek turned out to be a real bear – requiring three Communicator: Because you’ve thru-hiked the PCT nine times in the last The tradeoff is that higher numbers of trail users, in the long southern end of the PCT again on November 28, 2006, marking hours to successfully cross. Four different forest fires burned near 15 years, you have a unique perspective on the trail and its status. Are run, can also help to protect the trail because it means that more his ninth successful PCT thru-hike. the trail during Scott’s hike. At times they were so close that Scott there things you’ve seen out there that concern you in terms of the future of the PCT? people know about it and care about it. More people using the trail During this yo-yo, Scott’s ULA pack (without food or water) hiked through their intense heat. And at one point Scott became Scott: I’ve seen both positive and negative changes on the PCT means the trail will get more attention and more money. If the weighed about eight pounds, including a one-pound video severely ill for five days and lost 25 pounds, presumably from an since I first hiked it in 1992. The biggest positive change is that numbers and funding aren’t there, then the good fights that need camera he carried for Shaun Carrigan, who will use the foot- intestinal infection such as giardia. Overcoming these hurdles there’s a much more cohesive community having to do with the to be staged for the trail’s protection can’t be staged. age for the next installment of his Tell It on the Mountain PCT required unique mental and physical stamina. trail. There are more hikers, more trail angels, more trail maintain- In terms of development threatening the trail, in recent years documentary. Scott didn’t carry a stove, but instead ate a mostly Over the years, Scott has developed skills and insights to cope ers. And there’s just a lot more information available and better certain sections of Southern California have residential housing organic diet of protein shakes, dried fruit, crackers, and refried with just about anything the PCT can throw his way and not communication of information regarding the trail. The informa- popping up all over the place. At this point it’s not bad, but in beans. He augmented this diet by foraging for fresh food as he surprisingly he’s often asked to share these skills and insights tion that is out there for people before they start out on their hikes some areas, like south of Cajon Pass and just north of Agua Dulce, hiked, morsels like miner’s lettuce, wild onions and berries. His with others through talks and slideshows. If you’d like to learn is 100 times better than it used to be. I think the trail is threatened by major housing development. In the typical dinner consisted of dehydrated refried beans mixed with from Scott’s experiences, you can attend one of his upcoming Pacific Northwest, I’ve seen a real slowdown in the rate of clear-cut water, crumbled organic corn chips, and olive oil. To keep up his workshops in Truckee, California (visit www.pctthruhiker.com Trail maintenance is also greatly improved. When I first hiked logging, which is good news. energy, he ate two to three pounds of food each day, and “pigged for a schedule), or plan to attend PCTA’s Trail Fest in Seattle the PCT, there were areas in Southern California that were nearly out” during town stops on junk food and at salad bars. While where Scott will be giving a presentation. You can also find impassable. There are still some sections that need work but it’s so I’d say that, overall, I’ve seen more positive changes than Scott hiked alone, his father, Dave Williamson, and fiancée, Scott’s gear list, hiking history, and interesting statistics at much better than it used to be. I credit Pete Fish [recently retired negative ones. Michelle Turley, served as a support team and mailed and deliv- www.pctthruhiker.com. PCTA Southern California Regional Coordinator] and his trail Communicator: Any parting words for our readers? crews with that. Scott: In many ways, I’ve sacrificed a lot of areas of my life to be The biggest negative that I’ve seen is related to the larger num- In addition to the beautiful scenery depicted on these pages, Scott encountered a lot of wildlife during his yo-yo. He was fortunate on the trail so much. I don’t have a home. I drive derelict cars. bers of people using the trail in the spring in Southern California. to see 42 bears, 13 coyotes, 4 scorpions, and 1 mountain lion. The highest temperature he experienced was 117 degrees Fahrenheit, Financially, I’m on the poor side. But I feel like I’m a rich man This year, there was definitely a trash, toilet paper, and human the lowest was 5 degrees Fahrenheit. because the PCT has had a lot of wealth to offer me. The PCT has waste problem, especially around water sources and water caches. a lot to offer all of us. All of the photographs illustrating this article have been provided courtesy of Shaun Carrigan and www.TellitontheMountain.com. I’m not saying that we have a wild or inconsiderate group out there, ‘

20 21 PCTA Communicator February 2007 PCTA Communicator February 2007